islamic practises

Question 1

what’s the definition of shahada?

Answer 1

the muslim declaration of faith

Question 2

definition for salah/salat

Answer 2

prayer in arabic (second pillar of islam)

Question 3

definition for zakat

Answer 3

a payment mande annually under islamic law that is used for charitable & religious purposes, usually 2.5% of ones savings

Question 4

definition for sawm

Answer 4

fasting between sunrise and sunset during the month of ramadan

Question 5

definition of hajj

Answer 5

the pilgrimage to mecca that every muslim must take at least once in their lives

Question 6

definition for du’a

Answer 6

personal supplication or prayer, usually made in one’s own words, seeking guidance, forgiveness, or blessings

Question 7

definition for halal

Answer 7

lawful/permissable

Question 8

definition for haram

Answer 8

forbidden/unlawful

Question 9

definition for imam

Answer 9

the prayer leader of a mosque

Question 10

definition for eid-al-fitr

Answer 10

a holiday of breaking fast at the end of ramadan

Question 11

definition for eid-al-adha

Answer 11

the feast of the sacrifice, honouring the willingness of ibrahim to sacrifice his son, ishmael

Question 12

what’s jummah (friday prayer)

Answer 12

a congregational prayer on fridays

Question 13

definition for wudu (ablution)

Answer 13

ritual washing of face & feet before prayer

Question 14

definition for qibla

Answer 14

the direction muslims face during prayer, towards the ka’aba in mecca

Question 15

definition for kaaba

Answer 15

the shrine that ibrahim made after he was told to by allah, it is a sacred place and muslims circle it 7 times during hajj

Question 16

definition for hijab

Answer 16

a religious headscarf/modest clothing worn by muslim women, covering the head & body

Question 17

definition for iftar

Answer 17

a meal held at the end of the day during ramadan

Question 18

definition of sadaqah

Answer 18

voluntary giving to charity

Question 19

what do people do in id-ul-fitr?

Answer 19

• marks end of month-long fasting period of ramadan, origins trace back to muhammad redirecting celebration from pre-Islamic traditions in Madinah
• muslims gather in mosques for special prayers, wearing new clothes & exchanging gifts
• festivities include forgiving differences, helping less fortunate, enjoying special foods, remembering deceased by visiting cemeteries

Question 20

what do people do in id-ul-adha?

Answer 20

• known as “festival of sacrifice” or greater eid, commemorates prophet ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son for allah
• celebrated on 10th day of dhul-hijjah
• muslims take part in festival with mosque prayers emphasising sacrifice, and in britain they buy animals from local slaughterhouses, distributing meat among family, friends & poor (following islamic law)
• card exchanges, communal gatherings, ensuring inclusivity for those in hospitals/living alone

Question 21

what do people do in ashura?

Answer 21

• carries different meanings for sunni & shi’a muslims
• sunnis celebrate day through fasting & expressing gratitude for salvation of prophet moses from the pharaoh
• shi’a muslims observe it as day of mourning, remembering tragic death of imam hussein, prophet muhammad’s grandson, in battle of karbala
• they indulge in fasting, physical expressions of grief (like floggings), donate to charity to signify connection to his suffering